Cryptographic device



Dec. 3% i958 vAYA 2,866,274

CRYPTOGRAPHIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 4, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. P1 us+o Va. 5. BY q 1 mm ssww Dec. 3@, 1958 A. VAYA 2,866,274

CRYPTOGRAPHIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 4. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .N Hull-ml.

null-ma Au. Sh: lo. o: By 5 W S S-mm mgr hired States Patent (3 2,866,274 CRYPTUGRAPHIC DEVICE Augusto Vay, Buenos Aires, Argentina, assignor to C. A. D. A. C. Compania Argentina de Aparatos Criptografos Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada,

uenos Aires, Argentina, a limited-liability company of Argentina Application November 4, 1954, Serial No. 466,875 6 Claims. (CI. 35-35) My present invention refers to a new device for ciphering and deciphering of cryptograms and more particularly relates to an exclusively mechanically operating ciphering and deciphering apparatus so constructed and arranged that without knowledge of the respective code deciphering of a cryptogram prepared by means of this apparatus is rendered practically impossible.

The experiences as hitherto gathered in cryptography have proved that only the modern electronic cryptographic apparatus are able to ensure the impossibility of deciphering the cryptograms. These modern electronic apparatus are, however, very disadvantageous insofar as, at the one hand, they are extremely expensive and, at the other hand, due to their weight and dimensions are entirely unsuitable for being used on any kind of vehicle and finally in case of a sudden danger cannot be instantly destroyed.

The main object of my present invention is to provide a new portable, economic and instantly destructible device for mechanically ciphering and deciphering cryptograms which without knowledge of the code agreed upon by the sender and receiver and without the aid of this device cannot be deciphered at all.

The cryptographic device according to the invention effectively elminates the disadvantages of the known defar as its portableness is and a slider with a pair of ad ustable needles, projecting over said cipher carriers, the arrangement being such that for the purpose of writing in ciphers a clear text while the point of one needle is used to indicate on different cipher carriers the successive characters composing the clear text, the point of the second needle indicates on the same or other carriers the successive characters of the" cryptogram.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ciphering and deciphering device comprising two rotatively mounted support members, a number of annular cipher carriers loosely arranged on each of said support members, and a slider with a pair of adjustable needles so arranged that one needle projects over the cipher carriers of one support member and the other one over the cipher carriers of the second support member, with the advantageous result that while the point of one needle is used to indicate on different cipher carriers of one support member the successive characters of a clear text to be written in ciphers, the point of the other needle indicates on dilferent cipher carriers of the second support member the successive characters of the cryptogram.

According to one advantageous feature of the invention, the arrangement of the cipher carriers on the support members is such that their order of succession may be easily changed so that if each support member comprises a number of e. g. 48 cipher carriers the number of the possible cryptographic combinations will be enormously high, with the result that the higher the number of such possible cryptographic combinations the smaller will be the chance for deciphering the cryptogram.

According to another feature of the invention, the annular cipher carriers have their circumferences preferably subdivided in as many fields as there are characters in the alphabet of a given language with a character of the alphabet reproduced in each field in such an arrangement that the characters of successive fields of the different cipher carriers appear in arbitrary and always difierent order of succession, so that the order of succession of the characters changes from one to another of the cipher carriers, with the advantageous result that the number of possible cryptographic combinations is considerably increased when changing the relative positions of the cipher carriers, to such an extent that deciphering of a cryptogram is practically rendered impossible.

In connection herewith, according to additional features of the invention, the characters or their backgrounds may be of different colors or may be accompanied by certain marks giving tional signification, whereby the number of possible cryptographic combinations may be further increased.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ciphering and deciphering device as hereinbefore referred to,

wherein in the case of two support members the toothed disk of one member is in meshing engagement with that of the second member, with the advantageous result that the operation of one support member causes the other one to rotate in synchronism therewith.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the said support members are rotatively mounted instance, for the purpose of sion of their cipher carriers. pair of operatively interconnected support members, at least one of these members at one end is rotatively mounted-in a spring-loaded slidable bearing with the advantageous result that for reasons of adjustment the support members may be readily disconnected from one another.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a ciphering and deciphering device as hereinbefore referred to wherein the said slider Figure 1 is a plan view of a ciphering and deciphering device with a pair of support members for cipher carriers according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail partly sectional view of a cylindrical support member illustrating the mannerof arranging the cipher carriers thereon;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

With reference to the accompanying drawings the ciphering and deciphering device according to the invention comprises a suitable casing 1 having end walls 2. The shafts 3, 3 of a pair of cylindrical support members 4, 4' are rotatively mounted in bearings (not shown) arranged in the end walls 2 of the casing 1. For readily removing the support members 4, 4', the end walls 2 are provided with notches as indicated at 5, 5.

Each cylindrical support member 4, 4' has loosely disposed thereon a number of annular cipher carriers 6, 6. The circumference of each cipher carrier is subdivided in as many fields as there are characters in the alphabet of a given language and each field carries a character of this alphabet, but not in the alphabetic order. On the contrary, the order of the succession of the characters is entirely arbitrary and changes from one cipher character to the other. The cipher carriers 6, 6' may be arranged one aside the other, but the same may also be separated from one another by blank ring members 7, 7. Further individual fields of the cipher carriers 6, 6 or the characters reproduced thereon may be of different colors and certain characters of some or all cipher carriers may be provided with different marks thereby changing the signification of such characters according to their colors or marks as may be agreed upon by the sender and receiver of the cryptograms.

Each of the cylindrical support members 4, 4' has fixedly secured as by screws 18 a toothed disk 8, 8', the two disks 8. 8' forming a gearing for operatively interconnecting the two members so that the operation of one of these toothed disks causes the two cylindrical members 4. 4' to rotate in synchronism with one another.

At its op osite end each cylindrical member 4, 4 is provided with screw threads 9 for receiving a nut member 10. 10'. These nut members act as pressure means for pressing the cipher carriers 6. 6' on the cylindrical members a ainst their fixed toothed disks 8, 8' and for preventing said ci her carriers from spontaneously rotating on said cylindrical members 4, 4.

The u per ed es of the casing walls 2 are provided with studs 11 or the like for removably fastening thereon a rail 12 carrying a s ider 13. This slider com rises a pair of adjustable needles 15, capable of being fixed in a desired position by means of a set screw 14. The needles 15, 15' are preferably extensible and so arranged that they selectively project over the cipher carriers 6. 6 of one or bo h of the support members 4, 4'. Tf desired, the two needles are movable on a graduated disk 19 securedto the slider 13 for facilitating the relative an ular adjustment of the needles 15, 15'. Similarly the rail 12 may also be raduated as shown at 16 and the slider 13 may be provided with a pointer 17 for a correct adjustment of the slider with regard to the ci her carriers 6, 6'.

The bearing (not shownl of the cylinder shaft 3 at its end carr ing the toothed disk 8 is conveniently arranged in a slidable manner and sub ect to the pressure of a suitable spring (not shownl so that the gearing 8, 8' may be disengaged for the relative adjustment of two support members 4, 4'.

Instead of two support members 4, 4' the device may comprise only one support member 4. in which case the two needles are adiusted so as to project over two different ci her carriers 6 of this one support member only.

The operation of the ciphering and deci hering device according to the resent invention is simply as follows:

It is abso utely indispensab e that sender and receiver have their ciohering and deciphering devices with exactly identical cipher carriers. i. e. the'orders of succession of 4 on the different cipher carriers of the two devices must be exactly the same. Further, the orders of succession of these cipher carriers in the two devices must be also identical. The arrangement of the cipher the characters carriers may be readily effected after removing the nut members 10, 10. The relative position of the cipher carriers is adjusted in accordance with a code agreed upon by the sender and receiver in such a manner that the characters of the successive cipher carriers compose a clear text sentence which forms part of the code. In addition to this sentence the code must include a number e. g. characterizing the angle formed by the two needles 15, 15 and a second number e. g. 10 indicating the 10th cipher carrier at which the ciphering operation is started.

After eifecting the adjustments in accordance with the code as hereinbefore referred to a cryptogram is prepared in the following manner:

In the position as shown in Fig. 1 with the needle 15 projecting over the 10th cipher carrier 6' the cylinder 4' is rotated until on said cipher carrier below the point of the needle 15 appears the first character of a clear text to be written in ciphers, at which moment the point of the needle 15 indicates the first character of the cryptograrn. Now the slider 13 is moved to the next position to the right or to the left as agreed upon, the cylinder 4 is again rotated until the second character of the clear text appears below the point of the needle 15' and the second character of the cryptogram is indicated by the point of the needle 15. These operations are repeated until completion of the cryptogram. For deciphering the same the receiver proceeds in the same, but inverted manner by rotating the cylinder 4 and reading the clear text on the cylinder 4'.

It will be understood that the present invention is by no means restricted to the embodiment as described and shown, but that amendments and alterations may be made therein and that such amendments and alterations have to be considered as falling within the scope of the invention as clearly set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Cryptographic device for ciphering and deciphering cryptograms, comprising a casing, at least one cylindrical support member rotatively and removably mounted in the end walls of said casing, a number of interchangeable and individually adjustable annular cipher carriers on said support member and provided on their circumferenceswith the arbitrarily arranged characters of the alphabet in orders of succession difiering from one cipher carrier to another pressure means in connection with said support member for fixing on the latter said cipher carriers in their adjusted positions, a rail removably mounted on the upper edges of said end walls in a position parallel to the axis of said support member, and a slider with a pair of relatively adjustable needles carried by said rail and arranged with said needles projecting over said cipher carriers.

2. Cryptographic device for ciphering and deciphering cryptograms, comprising a casing, at least one cylindrical support member rotatiyely and removably mounted in the end walls of said casing, a number of interchangeable and individually adjustable annular cipher members on said support member between a fixed driving member at one end and a removable pressure member at the oppos te end of said support member and provided on their cl'rcumferences with the varbitrarily arranged characters of the alphabet in orders of succesion difiering from one cipher carrier to another, a rail removably mounted on the upper edges of said end walls in a position parallel to the axis of said support member and a slider with a pair of relatively adjustable needles carried by said rail and arranged with. said needles projecting over said cipher carriers 3. Cryptographic device for ciphering and deciphering cryptograms, comprising a casing, a pair of parallel cylindrical support members rotatively and removably mounted in the end walls of said casing, a number of interchangeable and individually adjustable annular cipher members between a fixed toothed disk at one end and a removable pressure member at the opposite end of each support member, the toothed disks of both support members being in operative engagement with each other and the circumferences of said cipher carriers being provided with arbitrarily arranged characters of the alphabet in orders of succession difiering from one cipher carrier to another, a rail removably mounted on the upper edges of said end walls in a position parallel to the axes of said support members and a slider with a pair of relatively adjustable needles carried by said rail and arranged with said needles projecting over said cipher carriers.

4. Cryptographic device for ciphering and deciphering cryptograms, comprising a casing, at least one cylindrical support member rotatively and removably mounted in the end walls of said casing, a number of interchangeable and individually adjustable annular cipher carriers loosely arranged on said support member and provided on their circumferences with the arbitrarily arranged characters of the alphabet in orders of succession differing from one cipher carrier to another, a graduated rail removably mounted on the upper edges of said end walls in a position parallel to the axis of said support member and a slider movably mounted on said rail and provided with a pair of relatively adjustable needles arranged on a graduated disk carried by said slider and projecting over said cipher carriers.

5. Cryptographic device for ciphering and deciphering cryptograms, comprising a casing, at least one support member rotatively mounted within said casing, a number of interchangeable and individually adjustable cipher carriers on said support member, pressure means in connection with said support member for fixing thereon said cipher carriers in their adjusted positions, and a slider with a pair of relatively adjustable needles arranged on a rod member secured to opposite walls of said casing in a position parallel to the axis of said support member and with said needles projecting over said cipher carriers.

6. Cryptographic device for ciphering and deciphering cryptograms, comprising a casing, a pair of rotatively mounted and operatively interconnected parallel support members within said casing, a number of interchangeable and individually adjustable cipher carriers on each of said support members, pressure members in connection with said support member for fixing thereon said cipher carriers in their adjusted positions, a slider with a pair of relatively adjustable needles, arranged on a rod member secured to opposite Walls of said casing in a position parallel to the axes of said parallel support members and with said needles capable of projecting over the cipher carriers on said two support members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 312,665 Smith Feb. 24, 1885 723,288 Lewis Mar. 24, 1903 FOREIGN PATENTS 537,446 France May 23, 1922 362,285 Italy Aug. 20, 1938 

